The government in Havana released a joint communique of the foreign ministers of Cuba and Russia, which was issued after Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez concluded on Tuesday his official visit to Russia, during which he held talks with his Russian counterpart, Igor Ivanov.

In the communique, the two ministers also confirmed their decisions to counter more effectively illegal drug trade, international terrorism and organized crimes.

They said they would support the formation of an extended international anti-terrorism coalition under the United Nations.

The document said both Russia and Cuba support the initiative of a Universal Treaty for the Banning of Nuclear Tests and the need not to allow sending arms to the space.

In regard to the nuclear crisis in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Perez and Ivanov expressed their support to a political and diplomatic solution that guarantees the security of the states of the region.

They also made a call for a solid and fair solution to the Middle East conflict, and stressed the importance of respecting the right of Palestinians to self-determination and the creation of a State with stable and secure borders, as well as the right of Israel to have a secure existence.

The communique reiterated their rejection to the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for the last 40 years.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2003)